Design and Analysis of Structural Composites

The Design and Analysis of Structural Composites requires the use of micro-mechanics and macro-mechanics concepts. The number of ply layup must be balanced between considerations of manufacturing and cost, and the requirements for directional stiffness and strength. Composite materials can be isotropic, orthotropic or anisotropic and either homogeneous or heterogeneous. Orthotropic material properties are normally required for analysis. Material properties may vary with temperature, time, and moisture content more so than traditional structural materials.

HLA Engineers, Inc., has several years of experience in composite structures. HLA can perform design and analysis of structures of polymer matrix composites with both thermoset and thermoplastic resin systems and other matrix materials and Smart Structures.

Our capabilities include:

Mechanics and Design of Composites

Determination of Elastic Moduli (Stiffness)
      Determination of Strength in Brittle Matrices.
      Determination of Strength in Ductile Matrices
      Compression behaviour
      Effect of orientation on elastic properties.
      Simple laminates and the approximatation of the properties
      of woven and random fibre composites.
      Sandwich core composite structures

Stress Analysis

Extensive FEA Experience with ANSYS, NASTRAN and MARC
      2D/3D and Quasi-3D FEA in Stress analysis
      Material and Geometric Nonlinear Analyis
      HyperElastics and HyperElastic Composites

Failure criteria and Failure modes

Laminate strength and strength theories
Residual stresses, stress concentrations, and interlaminar stresses
Laminate Progressive failure.
Failure theories including Max Stress, Max Strain, and Quad.
Failure criteria such as tsai-Wu, Hoffman, and Hill.

Composite Delamination, Edge Delamination Effects, Design and Analysis

Fatigue and Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics, Toughness in Composites

Thermal and Hygro-Thermal Analysis, TMA, TGA and DSC of polymeric materials

Optimization of material properties of composites and sensitivity analysis

Experimental Characterization of Composites and Physical Testing